Introduction to Good Thoughts and VR Therapy
Good Thoughts is the next generation of behavioral health, leveraging cutting-edge VR and AR technology to deliver innovative therapeutic care and training. Our platform aims to extend the reach of mental health care to more people than ever before, with the goal of achieving more successful outcomes for individuals facing challenges like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. By addressing issues such as accessibility and comfort, we strive to make therapy more engaging and effective. As a HIPAA-compliant solution, we prioritize both patient privacy and the efficacy of treatment, ensuring secure, immersive environments for therapy.
Within both group and individual therapy sessions, patients can choose their own avatar to represent themselves during the virtual session, whether that takes place in a traditional therapy room or in a more imaginative environment, such as on Mars. Additionally, emojis can be used to express reactions, helping patients communicate their feelings and reactions in real-time, especially when verbalizing emotions is difficult.
Clinicians also have the ability to tailor specific environments in the VR world to match the client’s needs, whether it’s taking a group trip to the beach for a deep breathing exercise or creating a unique space for personal reflection and relaxation.
In this blog, we’ll explore how VR therapy is reshaping the mental health field by speaking with two leading professionals—Dr. Hilary Curtis and Dr. David Kramer—about the impact of VR on treatment outcomes and its potential to transform behavioral health care.
Hilary Curtis – Advisory Board Insights
Hilary A. Curtis PhD, LMHC
With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Curtis has served as a therapist, clinical supervisor, and program director in community mental health programs, working with adolescents and adults struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. She is currently the co-founder of a group private practice, continuing to work with clients recovering from trauma and addiction. She holds a BA in Social Relations from Cornell University (a combined major of psychology, sociology, and anthropology), an MEd in Counseling and Consulting Psychology from Harvard University, and a PhD in Counseling and Developmental Psychology and Research Methods from Boston College. Dr. Curtis is a licensed mental health counselor in Massachusetts.
Throughout her career, she has worked in diverse clinical settings, including inpatient/residential programs, outpatient clinics, schools, and courts. Since 2009, she has consulted with local courts and criminal justice networks to develop clinical interventions aimed at addressing the state’s opioid crisis, helping to secure over $5 million in grants for diversionary programs for adults with addiction issues. From 2011 to 2015, she served as the Primary Investigator for a SAMHSA Health Information Technology grant, examining the use of smartphone technology to improve client outcomes in recovery from alcohol and illicit drugs.
General Thoughts on VR Therapy
Dr. Curtis emphasized the transformative role of telehealth in mental health care, an area that has become increasingly critical since the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted limitations in accessibility to in-person therapy. She observed that virtual reality (VR) could be a valuable next step in digital mental health treatment, offering immersive therapeutic experiences that surpass traditional telehealth. Unlike conventional video platforms, VR creates environments that foster engagement and facilitate a deeper level of emotional processing, especially beneficial for patients who find verbal communication challenging. With VR, clients can immerse themselves in soothing virtual spaces—such as a tranquil beach or forest—where they can engage in grounding exercises that help maintain focus, manage anxiety, and reinforce coping skills throughout their sessions.
Dr. Curtis also discussed the potential of VR as an adjunct to therapy, enabling patients to practice therapeutic skills in between sessions. Guided exercises could be available in VR after hours, allowing patients to work independently on relapse prevention and crisis management strategies. This “just in time” accessibility to therapeutic tools supports self-reliance and empowers patients to use coping techniques outside of regular therapy hours. Of particular interest to Dr. Curtis is a feature known as the "whiteboard," a virtual tool currently in development, which would allow clinicians to guide patients through personalized visualizations and imagery exercises. These visualizations, tailored to reflect the patient’s individual history and needs, could range from peaceful landscapes to supportive scenarios, deepening the emotional resonance of the therapeutic experience.
Unique Impacts of VR on Mental Health
Dr. Curtis highlighted several areas in which VR could have a significant therapeutic impact, particularly in trauma treatment. VR enables controlled, safe exposure to trauma-related cues by creating realistic yet manageable environments that allow clients to confront distressing memories with therapeutic support. This approach helps the therapist monitor and adapt the experience to match the client's comfort level, making exposure therapy both safer and more effective. Social anxiety is another domain where VR may prove to be highly beneficial. For instance, VR could provide alternative platforms for support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, where clients with social anxiety might struggle to participate in face-to-face interactions. In these virtual settings, patients could use avatars, emojis, and other interactive tools to engage authentically without the intensity of physical presence, creating a safer space to explore social connections.
Challenges in VR Accessibility
While VR holds substantial potential, Dr. Curtis acknowledged that accessibility remains a significant barrier. The technology itself can be daunting for individuals who are not tech-savvy or those who may feel intimidated by the VR hardware. Additionally, the cost of VR equipment and potential connectivity issues may limit its availability, particularly for clients from underserved communities. For individuals who wear glasses or experience visual impairments, VR headsets can sometimes cause discomfort, presenting an additional challenge in making VR therapy inclusive. Dr. Curtis stressed the importance of addressing these challenges to ensure VR’s broader accessibility and inclusivity within mental health care.
Easing the Transition to VR Therapy
Dr. Curtis emphasized that easing clients into VR therapy requires a thoughtful approach. Providing orientation and setting clear expectations about what VR therapy entails can help clients feel more comfortable with the technology. Dr. Curtis highlighted the importance of gradual exposure, empathetic support, and client-centered instruction to reduce initial discomfort. A tailored orientation process can help clients adapt to the virtual space more naturally, enhancing their engagement and therapeutic experience.
Promising Developments in VR and AI
Looking ahead, Dr. Curtis is excited about the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within VR platforms, which could offer deeper insights into patient progress and therapeutic effectiveness. By analyzing engagement data—such as how frequently a patient uses specific VR tools or the types of emotions expressed through avatars and emojis—AI can provide therapists with real-time feedback on client progress. These insights would allow therapists to make data-driven adjustments to treatment, creating a more responsive and personalized therapeutic approach. Dr. Curtis sees AI in VR as a tool that could enhance therapeutic outcomes, giving clinicians an unprecedented view of how clients interact with therapy tools and where additional support may be needed.
Through these innovations, Dr. Curtis envisions a future where VR and AI can work together to bridge gaps in mental health care, making therapy more accessible, interactive, and responsive to individual client needs.
David Kramer– Advisory Board Insights
Dr. David R. Kramer, MD
Dr. David R. Kramer, MD, is the Medical Director for all Recovery Unplugged medical and psychiatric services in South Florida. He is a Psychiatrist, Board-Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology since 1996. He received his medical degree with honors from the University of South Florida and completed his psychiatry training at the University of Pennsylvania. He has been in clinical practice in South Florida since 1997.
Dr. Kramer has special interests and extensive experience in the treatment of addiction, mood and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress, and adolescent psychiatric and behavioral disorders. Additionally, he has expertise in psychopharmacology, brief cognitively-based psychotherapy, and the assessment and treatment of substance abuse disorders.
He has served as Medical Director of several residential and outpatient treatment programs. Dr. Kramer is dedicated to thoughtful, client-informed psychiatric care, particularly in addiction treatment settings. He emphasizes the often-overlooked core ideal that clients should be properly educated about the purpose, goals, and potential challenges associated with their medical and psychiatric treatment.
The Context of Change
Good Thoughts arose from a unique confluence of events that have reshaped behavioral health and the expectations of patients. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth services, making them a common and necessary option for many seeking support. Concurrently, the emergence of advanced telecommunication technologies, particularly virtual reality (VR), has opened new avenues for connection and treatment. Additionally, the challenges associated with electronic medical record (EMR) keeping have highlighted the need for more streamlined workflows and automation.
Dr. Kramer emphasizes that these changes have not gone unnoticed by a group of experienced behavioral health providers. He states that our goal is to disrupt and improve the legacy systems of care delivery, creating a platform that genuinely meets the evolving needs of patients.
Meeting the Rising Demand for Accessible Care
A critical driver behind the creation of Good Thoughts is the increasing demand for behavioral health services, particularly among younger patients who expect engaging and easily accessible treatment options. “There’s a growing recognition that we need to deliver services in ways that are not only effective but also stimulating and engaging,” Dr. Kramer explains. “This platform is designed to do just that.”
The research supports the effectiveness of group modalities for various behavioral health diagnoses, especially substance use disorders. Good Thoughts harnesses this body of knowledge to create shared, immersive therapeutic experiences that capitalize on the power of group dynamics.
The Importance of Anonymity and Comfort
Dr. Kramer highlights the necessity for patients to maintain a degree of anonymity and privacy in their treatment. “Many individuals struggle with social anxiety and discomfort, and traditional in-person therapy can exacerbate these feelings,” he notes. “Good Thoughts is not about replicating the in-person experience; it’s about creating a novel treatment environment that combines empathic contact with the convenience and privacy that virtual therapy affords.”
Streamlining Electronic Medical Records
An often-overlooked aspect of behavioral health is the burden of electronic medical record keeping. Dr. Kramer points out that traditional EMR workflows can be cumbersome, especially during group therapy sessions where multiple entries may be required for a single encounter. “Good Thoughts seeks to simplify this process, making it less onerous and time-consuming,” he explains.
The platform is designed to minimize the administrative burden on clinicians, allowing them to focus more on patient care and less on paperwork.
Data-Driven Insights for Improved Outcomes
An essential feature of Good Thoughts is its ability to gather and report measurable data before and after therapy sessions. Dr. Kramer highlights this capability as vital for documentation and for demonstrating the benefits of treatment. “By systematically collecting this data, we can better understand patient progress and treatment efficacy,” he says.
Furthermore, the platform aims to create a library of symptom and rating scales, making it easier for clinicians to deliver these assessments to patients seamlessly.
Harnessing Technology for a Modern Patient Experience
The platform also responds to the expectations of a generation that has grown up immersed in technology. “Younger patients want to engage with tools they are already familiar with in other aspects of their lives,” Dr. Kramer explains. “By offering a VR experience that is not only therapeutic but also engaging, we can capture their attention and facilitate genuine connections.”
Conclusion: Looking Forward
As Good Thoughts prepares to launch its platform in early 2025, both Dr. Curtis and Dr. Kramer express their excitement about the potential for VR therapy to transform the field of mental health. “We are on the brink of a revolution in how we deliver care,” Dr. Kramer concludes. “It’s an exciting time to be part of this movement.”
We invite you to share your thoughts on the potential of VR therapy in mental health care! Stay tuned for updates as we approach our launch, and let’s explore the future of therapy together.
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